A Through-Dielectric Radar Imaging System
Name
Charvat-2010-A Through-Dielectric.pdf
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1.39 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Charvat, Gregory L.
Kempel, Leo C.
Rothwell, Edward J.
Coleman, Christopher M.
Mokole, Eric L.
Date Issued
May 2010
Journal
IEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Citation
Charvat, Gregory L et al. “A Through-Dielectric Radar Imaging System.” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 58.8 (2010) : 2594-2603. © Copyright 2010 IEEE
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Through-lossy-slab radar imaging will be shown at stand-off ranges using a low-power, ultrawideband (UWB), frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system. FMCW is desirable for through-slab applications because of the signal gain resulting from pulse compression of long transmit pulses (1.926-4.069 GHz chirp in 10 ms). The difficulty in utilizing FMCW radar for this application is that the air-slab boundary dominates the scattered return from the target scene and limits the upper bound of the receiver dynamic range, reducing sensitivity for targets behind the slab. A method of range-gating out the air-slab boundary by significant band-limiting of the IF stages facilitates imaging of low radar cross section (RCS) targets behind the slab. This sensor is combined with a 1D linear rail and utilized as a rail synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system. A 2D model of a slab and cylinder shows that image blurring due to the slab is negligible when the SAR is located at a stand-off range of 6 m or greater, and thus, the two-way attenuation due to wave propagation through the slab is the greatest challenge at stand-off ranges when the air-slab boundary is range-gated out of the scattered return. Measurements agree with the model, and also show that this radar is capable of imaging target scenes of cylinders and rods 15.24 cm in height and 0.95 cm in diameter behind a 10 cm thick lossy dielectric slab. Further, this system is capable of imaging free-space target scenes with transmit power as low as 5 pW, providing capability for RCS measurement.
MIT Department
Lincoln Laboratory
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1109/tap.2010.2050424
